Schroder Investment Management Limited
31 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7Q
Telephone +44 (0)20 7658 6000 Fax +44 (0)20 7658 6965
www.schroders.com
News Release
20 December 2011
The UK is the only country in Europe where the majority of investors are pleased with their investment
decisions, according to new research from Schroders.
At the end of a turbulent year, which has thrown up many challenges for the investor, Schroders polled
more than 1,400 affluent investors across 10 European countries, asking them how happy they were
with the investments they had made and what, if any, had been their investment regrets.
The research findings reveal that in eight of the 10 countries surveyed, the majority of investors were
not happy with the investments they had made. The exceptions were the UK and Germany. In the UK,
just over half were happy with their investments (55%) and opinion was balanced in Germany (50%).
Whilst the level of investor satisfaction was strongest in the UK, investors also expressed a number of
investment regrets.
The top regret in the UK was not starting to invest earlier in life (16%). This is further illustrated
by half saying that their top piece of money advice they would pass on to their children would
be to start saving as early as possible.
13% of UK investors said they wished they had invested more money, a concern that was
more prevalent in a number of other countries, such as Sweden (22%) and Switzerland (23%),
where overall satisfaction with investments made in 2011 was lower (37% and 18%
respectively).
Almost one in 10 UK investors (9%) also said they regretted having been too conservative
with their investment decisions during the year.
When asked what their top market concerns had been, 60% of UK investors mentioned the Eurozone
debt crisis and 52% were worried about current low levels of interest rates continuing. Looking
forward, 43% of investors expressed concern over the prospect of a weak or prolonged economic
recovery.
Schroders plc
Registered office at above address
Reg. 3909886 England
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Schroder Investment Management Limited
31 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7Q
Telephone +44 (0)20 7658 6000 Fax +44 (0)20 7658 6965
www.schroders.com
Percentage of investors happy with the investment decisions made to date in 2011
Rank
Country
Country response
1
United Kingdom
55%
2
Germany
50%
3
Belgium
38%
4
Sweden
37%
5=
France
24%
5=
Spain
24%
7=
Netherlands
21%
7=
Italy
21%
9
Switzerland
18%
10
Austria
5%
Peter Beckett, Head of International Marketing at Schroders, commented: “Our far-reaching study
of affluent investor opinion, spanning 10 European countries, comes at a time when the region has
been through major economic challenges and investors across Europe have been forced to revisit and
reappraise their investment strategies. As investors consider their plans for 2012 amidst a bleak
economic outlook, advice from independent financial advisers can help identify opportunities that
offset the regrets they have identified during 2011.”
For further information, or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Georgina Robertson, International PR, Schroders 0207 658 6168
georgina.robertson@schroders.com
Notes to Editors
To view the latest press releases from Schroders go to: http://ir.schroders.com/media
Further information
Additional tables are available upon request. The research was undertaken by YouGov in September
2011 among a representative sample of affluent investors spanning 10 European countries. These
comprised: Germany, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, France and
the UK. The affluent investor sample was defined as people with invested assets, excluding primary
residence, of €100,000 (or the equivalent amount).
Schroders plc
Registered office at above address
Reg. 3909886 England
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For your security, communications may be taped or monitored
Schroder Investment Management Limited
31 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7Q
Telephone +44 (0)20 7658 6000 Fax +44 (0)20 7658 6965
www.schroders.com
Schroders plc
Schroders is a global asset management company with billion £182.2bn (€211.6 billion, $283.9 billion)
under management as at 30 September, 2011. Our clients are major financial institutions including
pension funds, banks and insurance companies, local and public authorities, governments, charities,
high net worth individuals and retail investors.
With one of the largest networks of offices of any dedicated asset management company, we operate
from 32 offices in 25 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. Schroders
has developed under stable ownership for over 200 years and long-term thinking governs our
approach to investing, building client relationships and growing our business.
Further information about Schroders can be found at www.schroders.com or on Schroders Talking
Point www.schroders.com/talkingpoint.
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Schroders plc
Registered office at above address
Reg. 3909886 England
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